Intended to amass and streamline access to city services, the Santa Monica City Hall East was completed in April 2020, reflects one community’s commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge, timeless design. SMCHE is the largest municipal building in the country designed to achieve full Living Building Challenge certification, including Net Zero Water and Net Zero Energy. To achieve these groundbreaking results, our team worked together closely and collaboratively. SMCHE is the first in California permitted to convert rain-to- potable water on site, and the first in the U.S. to feature more than a dozen composting toilets.
The 50,000 square-foot SMCHE was designed to complement the existing City Hall building (Parkinson and Estep, 1939.) Its simple form and “quiet” exterior glass cladding respects historic landmark’s physical and architectural prominence. The façade’s transparency offers
increased visual connection to a progressive city striving for accessible and inclusive governance. A new internal courtyard features an “edible garden,” to be harvested for use on-site and by surrounding community establishments, including local shelters for the unhoused. Tables and chairs invite lingering by city employees and the public.
Visitors to SMCHE’s first floor conduct business in a daylight-filled permit center. Staff-only upper levels increase operational functionality, as well as enhance interdepartmental synergy. Meeting rooms and offices flank open work areas modeled on contemporary non-hierarchical workplace strategies, and each floor features expansive, café-like break rooms. Whether in conference or huddle rooms, at kitchen islands or coffee bars, or at long, window-facing desks, fluid movement and easy interaction is encouraged.